It's Friday. Happy National Doughnut Day, my friends. I fully plan to celebrate this afternoon. Here are some doughnut deals if you want to join. Here's what's happening in the world of politics today: - President Biden delivered a speech in France with one of the most beautiful settings I've ever seen. The unsurprising theme was the fight for democracy.
- A group of U.S. lawmakers jumped out of a plane and parachuted into Normandy. Yes, this was planned, and yes, they had training.
- The U.S. added an enormous number of jobs in May, blowing past expectations.
- Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has agreed to liquidate his assets to pay the Sandy Hook families' damages.
I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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Hello, my fellow Americans! I mean, Bonjour le monde! Mon nom est Joe: |
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On the surface, President Biden's trip to Normandy, France, is a stately ceremonial visit as a commander in chief to commemorate a historic battle. But dig a little deeper, and Biden's goal is to send a strong political message to voters at home: Democracy is fragile, and he's the key to preserving it. While the president has not mentioned his Republican opponent, former President Trump, by name during this trip, he has taken several not-so-subtle shots at his isolationist worldview. 💻 Watch Biden's remarks this morning The speech's theme: Democracy must be defended in the U.S. and abroad. A quote from Biden's speech: "As we gather here today, it's not just to honor those who showed such remarkable bravery that day, June 6, 1944. It's to listen to the echo of their voices. To hear them. Because they are summoning us." (The New York Times) Read more from AP: 'Biden looks to Pointe du Hoc to inspire the push for democracy abroad and at home' |
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➤ OMG, THIS REALLY HAPPENED: |
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➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM FRANCE:
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Wow, what a backdrop: 📸 Here's a photo of the setting for Biden's address. 📹 Watch Biden's big entrance Zelensky's reaction was pretty cool: The Washington Post's John Hudson posted: "Zelensky appears awestruck as a U.S. veteran in Normandy grasps and kisses his hand, calling him the 'savior of the people.' Zelensky replies: 'No, no, you. You saved Europe.'" 📹 Watch the clip I bet that's an incredibly cool view from a helicopter: Biden flew over Pointe du Hoc on Marine One before his speech this morning. 📹 Watch the flyover 📹 Another angle 📹 View of the crowd |
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➤ ON THE SIDELINES OF THE TRIP:
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Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and he apologized for the delay in sending aid and blamed Republicans. Biden told Zelensky: "I apologize for the weeks of not knowing what was going to pass, in terms of funding, because we had trouble getting the bill that we had to pass, that had the money in it. Some of our very conservative members were holding it up." (The New York Times) |
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➤ MORE READS ON THE ANNIVERSARY: |
'For the First French Town Liberated on D-Day, History Is Personal': "Some aging residents of Saint.-Mère-Église in Normandy can still recall the American paratroopers who dropped into their backyard. It's been a love affair ever since." The New York Times 'One U.S. D-Day veteran's return to Normandy: "We were scared to death"': CBS News |
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Jill Biden is making the Atlantic Ocean a skip, hop and jump: |
The prosecution rested their case against Hunter Biden this morning in the federal gun case over whether he lied about his drug use when purchasing a gun in 2018. Now, it's the defense's turn to present its case. Hey, Jill Biden made it back from France: First lady Jill Biden flew back to the Delaware courthouse after skipping Thursday's trial testimony for the D-Day anniversary in France. But it's a quick turnaround: "She is expected to be back in France on Saturday to join Biden for an official state visit with President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron." |
"The U.S. economy added 272,000 jobs in May, and the unemployment rate ticked slightly up to 4 percent, according to new Labor Department data released Friday." For context: "The May jobs report was far hotter than the expectations of economists, who projected a gain of 185,000 jobs and no movement from the April jobless rate of 3.9 percent. The slight increase in the jobless rate, however, ends the longest streak of sub-4 percent unemployment since the 1960s." (The Hill) |
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Alex Jones digs through his pockets: 'Let's see how much cash I have': |
Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who owes the families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims more than $1.5 billion in damages for falsely promoting the tragedy as a hoax, has agreed to liquidate his assets. As CNN puts it: "The seismic move paves the way for a future in which Jones no longer owns Infowars, the influential conspiracy empire he founded in the late 1990s. Over the years, Jones has not only used the media company to poison the public discourse with vile lies and conspiracy theories, but also to enrich himself to the tune of millions of dollars." (CNN) |
It must be Clarence's birthday all the time: |
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Yeah, I'd be worried, too…: |
The Hill's Alex Gangitano reports that "President Biden lost more than half a million voters to the 'uncommitted' movement in this year's Democratic primaries, an effort that has netted 30 delegates across five states and has underscored frustration within his own party over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war." 💡 Why this is worrisome for Biden: These are not voters who would likely vote for former President Trump instead. The worry is that these voters stay home altogether. That would hurt Biden, as well as Democrats' chances of keeping the Senate or winning the House. Read more: 'Biden faces growing warning signs from "uncommitted" vote' |
When your CV includes 'Stop the Steal': |
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"I'm exhausted by the vice president conversation and I've been here five minutes," Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said while on the campaign trail with Trump on Wednesday. 📸 Vance talking with reporters 📸 Vance posted a photo from Trump's Arizona event Keep in mind: The Associated Press noted that this was Trump's first battleground appearance since a jury found him guilty of 34 felonies. |
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🍩 Celebrate: Today is National Doughnut Day! And tomorrow is National Rosé Day. |
🏊♀️ The Eiffel Tower is dressed up!: Here's a photo of the Eiffel Tower in Paris with the Olympic rings. 👑 The 'society wedding of the year': "Prince William was among the guests at the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and Oliva Henson, at Chester Cathedral today." Wedding details, including two arrested protesters |
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The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in Paris, and Vice President Harris is in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
- This morning: Biden spoke in France. 💻 Watch
- Noon: Harris speaks at a political event.
- This weekend: The Bidens are in France.
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